1678 Barrington St, Halifax, NS B3J 2A2, Canada
Small, unfussy eatery & bistro offering hearty breakfast-into-lunch staples plus coffee drinks.
Brilliant breakfast 👌 Our first visit here and will definitely return when we’re back in Halifax. Really good range of breakfast options with additional daily specials in the board. The breakfast poutine was especially good 👌
4/5 just so this is taken seriously, legit 5/5 though. The prices for the amount and food and the quality are incredible! Like $10-12/person for a FULL plate. Only like $7 for sandwiches and other similar items. Amazing prices. The food was an amazing quality too, very homegrown breakfast type feel Services was as good as it could be given it was packed! Our waitress even made sure to quickly clear a table from a reserved spot to be able to seat us The atmosphere was quaint, busy but full of old charm. Great little downtown eatery and definitely a bistro vibe. Overall I would 100% go back anytime and would be reccomeding it for any kind of breakfast/lunch place. It seems to get busy so try to book in advance Great job!
Visited this spot for breakfast/brunch, and puzzled by all the hype. The dining area was dimly lit like a lounge, which was odd for 10am and made it difficult to see. Our server seemed disorganized and awkward, and it took a long time for our meals to arrive. One dish was a typical breakfast plate—nothing special—and the other was unfortunately barely edible. I ordered what I thought was a breakfast sandwich with latkes as the bun, but the "latkes" were more like burnt pan scrapings with the texture of a cereal box. It was so disappointing that I would have said something if the server had checked on us. But they only came by at the end to quickly clear away the unfinished food and present the bill, which we had to pay at a counter near the front. The person at the register was so brusque and grumpy that we decided not to mention the burnt food and just left quickly.
Elle's bistro has always been a Halifax special in my book. From the perfect downtown location to the amazing breakfast food in the past, it was a no-brainer. However, my last trip wasn't up to the mark. We went in for a late lunch, but apart from the burger, everything else was bang average. This genuinely made me sad, but I hope the next time is a good one. Can recommend for breakfast, but I'm not sure about the lunch menu.
I visited here for the first time last weekend and it was lovely. We went Sunday afternoon and had no wait time for a table. Very cozy atmosphere. Our server was helpful and friendly. I ordered the ham and Swiss eggs benedict and a coffee. The coffee was good and I like how they had a medium roast and a dark roast option. The food was delicious! The poached eggs were cooked perfectly, the Hollandaise was rich and the potatoes were crispy. I love how they used real ham slices instead of processed deli meats like some other places I have eaten. The price of the food was also great. I'll definitely be back.
My wife and I had quite possibly the best breakfasts we’ve ever had at this place today. She had French toast and bacon and I had the old school diner breakfast. Both were impeccable. My method of checking pictures of fries and home fries to see if they’re real or frozen always works. Service was friendly and prompt. Prices very reasonable. Highly recommended!!
It was our first time here, and we did have a good time! The servers were super nice and patient, especially we were there with a baby. They set up the baby chair for us and made sure we were comfortable. The food we got were egg Benedicts, steak and eggs, French toasts and some sides. The steak and eggs I got was super tasty, and they had the onions and mushrooms on the top of the steak, which was definitely a plus. I also love their home fries and eggs, just felt the steak was a bit too small. My friends all enjoyed their meals, but it would be nice if there’s some seasoning for the home fries. Other than that, good atmosphere, good service, decent prices, and so many options! We do love this restaurant!
The breakfast was hot and tasty but you can get the same fare anywhere. Our waitress was ill-equipped so we waited far too long for menus and coffee without any acknowledgment. I really wanted to like this place and it seems many people do but the best decor, the best music, even the best food falls flat when accompanied with poor or substandard service. It's not how it tasted but how they made you feel; that is what people will remember. Update: We've been back a few times and the service has improved.
Every time I visit Halifax I have to make a stop or two at Elles. The atmosphere is great and the food even better. Love these little local spots for dining! Vegetarian options: Veggie options on the menu! Dietary restrictions: They have GF options
Awesome breakfast and great service.
Cute little place to stop in. I was there 11am on a weekday and it was pretty quiet, just a few other customers. Service was fantastic and the food was good, unfortunately my French toast came out almost cold but it was tasty. Coffee top ups are always appreciated and the price point was very affordable.
Congratulations to Elle s on nearly ten years of delivering outstanding food and service! This restaurant has it all and has become a staple of Downtown Halifax. The longevity and consistent quality are a testament to its excellence. Whether youre a regular or a first-time visitor, youll be impressed by the warm atmosphere, delicious food, and exceptional service that have made this spot a favourite. Heres to many more years of Elle s!
If it was possible to have no stars, I would rate it as such. Servers were friendly, when they were in the dinning area. We were waiting for extended periods of time just to get the basics of a served dinner. Didn t even get a refill of our water pitcher during our 1.5 hr long meal. Food was hot and cold at once. The stuffing I had ordered - an extra $4 - was barely a portion big enough to fill a shot glass, and was completely dried out and had a totally hardened crust surrounding the entire outside, and without taste. Worst of all - they charged more for the items than what was advertised on the menu. My $11 turkey pita turned into $17 once the bill came. A price that was surely ridiculous for the food received. This is now on our definite no go list of local favourites
Absolutely disappointed from my last visit here. I remember fondly enjoying their brunch a few years ago but their food quality has completely gone down the drain. I got the leeks and brie eggs benny and the leeks were burnt and the brie slice they provided was all rind. The drip coffee was burnt tasting and was hard to drink. Service in the front end was frustrating as the hosts took so long to acknowledge you are there waiting while tables sit empty. Unfortunately wont be coming back upset because this place was a go to brunch spot.
Very good breakfast and brunch food. We came here two days in a row and both servers were excellent but there was only one server working at a time for the whole restaurant. Would be nice if they could schedule another server for the busy breakfast service.
Restaurant was dirty and dingy. Server spilled our flight a bit then brought napkins for us to wipe it up. They were out of the bread that the sandwiches we chose was supposed to be served on. Menu said the sandwich came with homemade fries, but we were served not homemade breakfast home fries. Bathroom was awful, with no paper towel. Will never return! The owner responded to my review below, so my only option to reply back was to edit my review. I ordered the Grilled cheese club on rye, but owner said there is only one sandwich that comes on rye. I did misread regarding the home fires so apologies there. I was there several weeks ago, so doesn t align with bread delivery issues. Owner did not address the other issues mentioned.
Amazing Place!
Had a really poor experience here. Had issues with my food and sent it back because it wasnt edible, curdling ingredients etc. The chef that day started going off from the kitchen, everyone could hear, was shaming me for sending back something poorly made. Made other customers as well as us uncomfortable. Server tried to calm them down and apologized to us, and tried to make things right but i just didnt feel comfortable even trying to get something else to eat. My partner finished their meal and we left. Really disheartened by the experience, definitely wont return here.
What a great place for lunch. A classic old-school diner/restaurant that attracts a varied and interesting crowd.
Excellent eggs Benedicts with many different varieties. Jalapeño latkes wonderfully spicy. Very good waffles and French toast. I would have melted the Brie but still very good. Mediocre home fries: Nothing wrong with them but nothing special either. Portions a little smaller than diner average. Prices ok. Nice drink selection. Service is great. Building is a bit dark and when we were there, there was a long wait for washrooms but that may have just been bad luck. Overall we d go again.
Overall food was great and our waitress was very friendly! However it was incredibly busy for just one waitress. I ve been here a few times before and I will be coming back !
Very solid diner breakfast. The toast and sausage were the highlights of the meal.
It was an odd experience. We were a party of 7 so I understand that ifs hard to make space. When we arrived, the restaurant was over half empty, yet we waited 20 minutes for three tables to be pushed together. It was a Thursday morning around 11:00 and they were out of lettuce out of Diet Coke. We ordered a garlic toast with cheese which came out as if a 3-year-old had made a grilled cheese sandwich. The lobster mac and cheese was good and the Mimosa flights were also yummy. The rest of our food did not seem like good value for money it all just seemed very small. This restaurant has a pretty decent rating, so maybe they were understaffed for the day.
Food
Im waiting for my partner, after 10 minutes of waiting, no coffee or glass of water offered. Then, 30 minutes of waiting after ordering, to get our meals. But it was good.
Unfortunately the food and service were not great... We came in for breakfast and had to wait quite long for our food, which would have been fine if it was busy, but this was not the case.
We were hesitant to try this place because of how large the menu was, we were worried things wouldn t be well done.. but man I m glad we came! Our Eggs Bennys were great (try the jalapeño popper one!) and the food was hot. Service was kind. We ordered ceasers and they came with wicked toppings part of a grilled cheese! Yum! Perfect easy going pub style breakfast that wasn t greasy at all.. will definitely return!
My husband had a decent omelette here. I ordered one pancake and a side of potatoes. I couldnt eat more than 2 bites of the pancake sadly, as it was tough, dense, and lacked any flavor. Id probably avoid that if we returned unfortunately. I also asked for more water, and instead, the check was brought to us, with no water.
Had a reservation. We arrived and were told they overbooked. Super disorganized
Don t recommend this place mostly based on service! So poorly run and organized. Servers do everything. They are the host who seat people, serve people, bus tables and then also go across to the kitchen and check you out. It s a million degrees inside. While in a line up for a table there were five dirty tables that no one is clearing or setting up. This continued through our breakfast. Huge line up with dirty tables everywhere!!! They seat us finally. Our order takes a while and when we finally get food we have no cutlery. Then we wait for that as the cutlery bin is empty and I think our server had to go and wash some to give to us! Food was basic. I barely got any potatoes and they looked like they were at the bottom of wherever they came from. Basic breakfast place. Milkshakes are good. Regardless you could have the best food in town but if the atmosphere and service are this terrible you have nothing!
Where great selection at great prices meets great food and better service. Elle s is a hidden gem !
We went here on a Sunday morning. The place was very busy but the staff still made sure to engage with us and let us know theyd seat us as soon as possible. Once we were seated our order was taken promptly and our food was delivered quickly. The food was delicious and everything was cooked perfectly. The waiter was attentive without being over bearing. Id absolutely recommend this place to others and will return again myself!
Went here twice while on our little honeymoon vacation the other week, loved it! Excellent breakfast. Wish we could have tried the mac and cheese but I understand being out of items due to the busy tourist season. I will definitely be back again! Very nice server as well, and the prices are great.
**edited in response to owner s nasty comments** I was in at lunchtime on August 13. I have no intention of ruining your business. I do, however, think it is fair to share my experience -- good or bad -- at a restaurant. Thats why these platforms exist. There is no reason why a server would joke about being out of several items on the menu. Even if it was a joke, why would the server then force a customer to order something else? It doesnt make sense. Regardless, I did tip well because I didnt think the server should be punished for what was clearly a kitchen management issue. Overall, just wanted to bring a few things to your attention. Thats all. All the best to you and your staff. I went for a work lunch with four colleagues. Two ordered salads that were served on hot plates with warm lettuce. Not ideal, but not egregious. Two colleagues ordered chicken-based dishes. The server told us that the kitchen was out of chicken, but he could substitute for turkey. Totally fine. I ordered the comfort wrap, which was also turkey based. Five minutes after we ordered, our server returned to tell me that the owner had been in, and he took the last turkey breast. So I could no longer have the wrap I ordered. Also, the kitchen was out of blue cheese and couldn t make the burger that my coworker had ordered. While I was scanning the menu to look for a meal that didn t have chicken, turkey, or blue cheese, I was advised that the kitchen was also out of hamburgers. Go figure. I ended up with a vegan wrap that was supposed to have pecans in it. There were no pecans to be found (I m guessing nobody wanted to tell us they were out of those too), so the wrap was just lettuce and avocado wrapped in an extremely stale pita. Stale to the point of being crunchy like a cracker and disintegrating. So, pretty much everything was bad. It wasn t the server s fault, but I do think that good service would have included compensating our meals (which were terrible and not at all what we ordered), or telling us from the outset that the kitchen was extremely limited that day.
Very cute an lovely environment, I cant complain about much, it is really just my palette; however, the water is tap water in a small little glass instead of a glass of ice water which would be a much better fit, a stupid thing to complain over, but the bottled water (so a filtered option) is $5.00! Which is absurd in my opinion. I hate eggs, however I love french toast. I ordered french toast with banana, I got a small little chunk of burnt carmalized banana and than french toast that was more egg than Im used too, is wall all I could taste. What I normally love about french toast is you can hardly taste the egg with all the other flavors going on. It was literally like they dipped the bread in egg put it in a pan and than cracked another egg over it. Not my taste, but Im sure others love it. I give this a 3 star review because the other people with me agreed that seasoning needs to be used and consistent cooking which doesnt seem to be the case here. Sad, but it is what it is.
Eggs Benny were amazing. Some of best I ve had Eggs Halifax was okay. A bit overpriced for what it offered and it was on the smaller size. I will probably stick with the eggs Benny in the future. Prompt service and cozy interiors.
so delish, cheap, food took 15 minutes to come out but it was well worth it. No gluten free buns.
Understated dive bar / diner with delicious eggs bennies.
Cheap. The pleasant atmosphere
I had a reservation for breakfast. We were left standing at the door for a solid 10 minutes with no acknowledgement from the server or any communication at all that we would be seated at some point. In the end we left.
The server allowed us to order lunch then didn t come back for 10 mins to tell us that we can t order lunch till 12. So we ordered something different and it didn t come out for 40 minutes. Once it did it was luke warm. My friend got the Brie French toast and the brie was cold not even melted on top. I go the seafood Benedict and there was barely any seafood on it and it was bland. We had to eat it because we were so hungry from waiting but server didn t come back until we were on our last bite. There was also screaming kids right behind us.
Me and my friends just ate here after the pride parade. Food is incredible, affordable, and the staff are wonderful! Can t wait to come back soon(:
Arrived to eat in. Waited 15 minutes to get a table when they were plenty of empty tables while the staff wombled by. My girlfriend asked for the fishcakes -a brunch specialty - not available asked for what type of white wine they have -apparently only Chardonnay is available which she doesn t like -left there without ordering anything - it appeared to us.as if we the customer, were an inconvenience!
Great breakfast. All four of us enjoyed great meals Very friendly staff and great prices. Food
The dishes were amazing and the staff Jekobe was great as well.
Decent place for breakfast. They were missing several items listed on the menu. Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheel chair accessible. There are a few steps to challenge. Food : 3/5 |
My friends and I had a mixed experience at this place. We ordered eggs benedict, pancakes with sausage, and the California wrap. We had to wait longer that expected to be seated ; the place was 3/4 empty and the wait staff could not be found. It took around 15-20 minutes for someone to come take our drinks and meal orders. When I asked for the pancakes with sauage (an item that is listed on the menu), the waiter told me to order the half order of pancakes with sausage on the side. The reason for this was The pancakes are huge and you get more for your money if you order this way. The waiter did tell me that it would cost more but it would be worth it. I received a single pancake that was average sized and could have been cooked another minute. I did not complain as flagging down a waiter was near impossible. My friends had decent meals, but nothing super stellar. The staff messed up our bills by putting the wrong items on each bill. We were able to fix this amongst ourselves due to e-transfer, but this was an avoidable situation. All three of us work in the service industry, and we were appalled by how things were run here.
Great place for breakfast
Fantastic food and service Huge menus and also a huge eggs Benedict menu We got a couple classic diner breakfasts and an eggs Benny on latke and both were excellent. Great hollandaise sauce and excellent coffee Bit of a wait for a table but then server Jekobe was very attentive and efficient on a busy Sunday morning Will be back!
I m not the type of person to write negative reviews, I ve been thinking about it for a few days and it just seems like such an EASY fix that I had to write it down so hopefully the next person who goes will have a better experience. This place is so cute and it s such a shame that my first experience left such a sour taste in my mouth. And my complaint sounds so trivial. Even to me. But again it s such a weird thing to refuse. They refused to serve me egg whites only. When I pushed back the waiter said I ve asked the chef before and he refuses hard no. He suggested I cut around the yolk. He didn t even apologize for the inconvenience. They give you egg whites at McDonald s. You re telling me this place can t just not serve the yolk? Again I know it s a trivial thing that doesn t apply to many people. But the way it was handled and the way it made me feel made this a one and done place for me. I hope that you this feedback helps future people avoid this issue.
I love an honest take on traditional food. We enjoyed perusing the menu about as much as the food itself. If we were local, we would opt to try every version of a Benny they have come up with. The server was on point and managed a heck of a lot of tables, solo.
Always enjoy meals here. Great service, always awesome food. The Jalapeño Breakfast Sandwich is my go to!
We were seated in the back and though our server was aware of it kept us waiting
This is a really cute spot in Downtown Halifax with great food! My only complaint is the size of the menu - 15 types of burgers, 12 types of omelettes, 20 types of Eggs Benny?? Its unnecessary and overwhelming not just as a customer, but as someone who used to work in kitchens, I feel for the cooks.
They say the chicken parm is breaded, but it is not. They brought the first meal out 10 minutes before the second meal. So we watched each other eat our meals.
This used to be one of my favourite and most recommended places, but I likely will never be back after my last visit. The main server for our table was rude and gave conflicting allergy information as opposed to another server. The server who sat us originally was lovely and I wish that they had been our server instead. Our server was short with us and spoke to us rudely. When we asked for milk for the coffee he sighed loudly and got upset when I asked if there was any pectin in the caramel sauce. His response was I dont know and when I politely asked if he would be able to check with the kitchen staff he was visibly angry. Halfway through eating he tossed the bills onto the table and said go pay over there and we did not see him again. The food itself was bland and arrived cold, which is not typical for Elles. Overall the visit was not worth the drive and unfortunately I will be finding a new brunch spot. Edit: I may have been hasty with writing off this restaurant, however the owner response has made it clear I made the right decision. Had I been met with more empathy, especially given how serious food allergies are, I would have been willing to go back. Now Ill support other small businesses that are more local to me.
I tried the Shakshouka, but it was disappointing. It tasted more like tomato soup, lacked seasoning, and the portion size was quite small. Additionally, the waiter was impolite, and we had to wait in the rain for quite some time.
First time going to Elles Bistro today. Party of 5 and all enjoyed their brunch. I was so happy there was a vegan option and had the vegan breakfast and it was delicious! Our server was very friendly and professional. Highly recommend Elles Bistro
The breakfast poutine was excellent!
I am surprised this place is still open, the first thing I noticed walking in is the dungeon creep vibe going on. The place is soo dark that you can t really read the menu or see the food properly. The only lighting was the Costco patio bulbs hanging with thumbtacks. Only one server was working that day, and it was busy for lunch time. The menu needs to be cut down as it was a book, the water cups are the ones they use in schools, and overall It was disappointing. The food was okay as it came in hot but some items on the menu were not available to order.
Food was delicious. We had three different eggs Benny (brie and leek, swiss and mushroom, cheddar) and the bananas Foster french toast. Perfect portion sizes. Server was friendly and efficient. Good coffee too.
Great food with lots of options. Warm cozy environment and super affordable. Service was great. Very happy with coming here
Have had the Keto Breakfast a couple of times and really enjoyed it! It s not easy to find all day breakfast with gluten-free options, so this was a great find. Dietary restrictions: Another gluten-free option they have is the Jalapeño Bacon Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich. Looking forward to trying it!
These guys were slammed on Sunday morning so service was a bit slow but they took great care of us and brunch was excellent.
Food was amazing
Took about a hour and a half to get our appetizer when the place was empty Parking: Horrible Food : 1/5 |
Used to be our teams regular visit. At the last visit (end of Jan 2024), the server did not have customer service. When asked the server questions, most of his answers were I dont know, we had to ask if he could check with the kitchen. The worst was, the Beer Bacon Chili was very sour. Why Chili sour??? no idea. didnt see the server came back, i went to the counter to ask what was the ingredient, he said the chef was not on the site. He did not know why it was sour. I suggested if he could find out. He then texted the chef who said he may have put too much lime juice in it. It was so sour that i didnt touch it again after 3 spoonful. Server had no ability to offer anything but gave me the email of the owner. Full bill + tips paid. Owner replied after 2 weeks (due to her own health issues - delayed response was totally fine though i had to send the same email twice to follow up). Owner said the staff tasted the same batch and found no issue, so the best she could do was to offer a discount when I go back next time. I dont think i (and our team) will ever go back again.
Aside from the fact that we were told to wait for a table when over half the tables were empty, the food just wasn t very good. The potatoes were bland and had no seasoning and even for a mediocre breakfast I would have expected a little more. The waiter also seemed to be trying to rush us along which was kind of annoying.
Absolutely great staff. I wish I had of got his name but our waiter was fantastic. Super friendly, and made every table feel special. Rare to get that great of service. It Was very busy and he seemed to be the only one working the front. Although it was a tad slow due to how busy it was, the service and food was defiantly worth the wait. Will definitely be back.
defiantly a place to go for brunch, good food, good service and nice prices
Great Location Excellent Prices just find they are in a rush to push you out the door.
My first time there, we came in for dessert tried a cinnamon bun was pretty good but the gingerbread cake came out burned, also the service was very poor, tea came out fast and water which was ordered with the rest came out after we were done with dessert, it was really a task for him. Bring your own water.
Good food and service. Bit of a wait for a table and had to wait outside, but it was new years day so I wasnt surprised. Service was quick and friendly. Tables are close together so it is a bit loud and cramped inside.
We found this little hole in the wall by accident, and I am so glad. New favorite breakfast spot! Prices are low, huge breakfast menu (and lunch AND drinks!!) so many choices and the food is amazing! Staff was friendly. Will be back.
Wow. Simply wow. Seriously excellent food and really good service. Restaurants have had a really hard go in the last few years and the ones that have survived are very, very special places. For real food with awesome service, go see see them. I had the mushroom and swiss Eggs Benedict. Best I have had ever, anywhere. Thanks Elle and Pete! You both deserve the success youve worked so hard for.
Service was extremely slow and not very attentive. Two bites in, a glass fell and broke on our plates and we were made to pay for the replacement meal.
My family and I were very well attended and had great moments at Brunch with an awesome food
Get a mimosa flight and start your day off right!
Cute restaurant with a great local story. Food came out hot, server was kind. Luckily had a chance to have a brunch there without having to stand in a crazy line up outside!!
once puked in the bathroom, 5/5 stars
The food is really generous and good for a reasonable price. However I had to wait 20 mins for someone to take my order and another 20 mins or more to get the food. Maybe I came in a busy day or when the kitchen was not organized ! It is still worth it anyway !
We had a terrific meal (breakfast) here. There were six of us and everyone liked their meal. Their prices are very reasonable. In the heart of the city.
One of the best places for brunch in the city! The food is excellent, the staff treats you really well and it gives off homely vibes. Prices are reasonable for the portion and it is definitely a place Id visit over and over. Best to call and reserve, if possible, because there tends to be a long line on the weekends.
Great food and service. Will be back!!
Staff are friendly and helpful. Absolutely looking forward to having brunch at Elle s again.
Great food selection and drinks menu. I was a little worried by the size of the menu, because a lot of times places with too many items don t have great quality, but what we got was very well done (jalapeño popper eggs benedict and eggs halifax). I also appreciated the gluten free and vegetarian options. The staff were super friendly and helpful, even though they were extremely busy and short staffed when we were there. I d recommend making a reservation, because there was a line out the door the whole time we were there.
Great food, decent prices, and service is always good. Drip coffee seems to be of a higher-than-average quality. Food : 5/5
Elle s is easily one of our favourite brunch spots! We ve been going since they first opened with half the space they have now. The people and atmosphere are great and the food is even better! Think: classic diner food done with love. If you re wondering what to order - their egg benny s and milkshakes are plentiful and popular. They also do boozy desserts! Go, have fun, eat well. You won t regret it!
The best breakfast ever ! Maple pecan Brie
We visited at noon on a Sunday, arrived to a full house. Greeted warmly and waited about 10 minutes for a table. Service was super friendly and I understand the kitchen was slammed. Our table enjoyed chocolate chip pancakes (complete with an are you sure about a full size order warning that was appreciated), french toast and I had the jalapeno bacon cheddar sandwich. Everyone was quite happy at the table, service was super friendly all the way around. Will be back and regret not getting there sooner!
Someone who worn the golden frame glass showed me what is the bad service.i am so disappointed the service and food.
I always have to come here when I m in Halifax. Don t let the large menu fool you, everything they make is great. If you re looking for value for your dollar, great food, and great service then this is the place. PS you are too my to want to get the latkes .
Hungry Hippo review: hearty portion, satisfying and decently priced. Eggs made to preference. Wanted a cinnamon bun but they ran out: substituted for a M&M cookie which was good. Appears to be worth repeat visits to try out other items on the menu. Two coffee options (dark or medium) which is uncommon for an eatery, bonus points!
The food was ok, ambiance was too dark and too cold.
Best breakfast! You have to try their Smoked salmon eggs benny; their browned butter Hollandaise sauce is so delicious!
They have a great variety of tasty plates. Dont miss the pancake. Its humungous!
Absolutely lovely. My first visit and I ll definitely be back! I had the ham eggs benny with coffee - delicious and well-priced.
Really enjoyed the French toast plenty of it on the plate. The server was very friendly and made a few suggestions on what to eat, where it was our first time eating there.
We visited Elle s Bistro today and were pleasantly greeted. However, after sitting for about 5 minutes, we saw 2 mice. As time went on, more mice scurried across the dining room floor. After gently bringing it up to our waiter, he said oh yeah we know. It s a port town, so there are mice running all around all of these buildings down here. There is lots of construction going on so the mice are going into buildings. Don t worry though - they won t go near you! Last week, a mouse actually went onto someone s foot and that was a problem, but you guys will be fine. I m sorry - are we supposed to normalize having mice in restaurants? We have been to several lovely restaurants and stores downtown Halifax, yet we have ever only seen mice at this restaurant. By the end of our stay, we saw around 8-10 mice sightings. I could not eat my meal whatsoever, and the server recognized this, yet still charged me for my meal. I am extremely disappointed in this service and the fact that our server made us feel wrong about questioning there being mice in the restaurant. I would never return here, and that is very sad this place definitely has charm, but mice are unacceptable.
We had two delicious meals at Elles. Very quaint with great service and great food. It is in Downton Halifax. Food
Great experience! Highly recommend!!
Great food!
Thought wed give Elles Bistro a try for brunch. Didnt realize wed need reservations. Had about a 40 minute wait outside for a table...didnt mind that really. We were seated at the back of the restaurant which actually wasnt bad because the main restaurant was very busy and loud. By what I could see there were three servers on. The place was packed. Our server was a nice young fellow, but all the servers were over taxed. The food was great....I had to give the service 3 stars...not because it was bad...it was just slow. Not enough staff. One unfortunate thing I noticed was the restrooms were upstairs....I didnt take note of one on the main floor so...that would make it not accessible for wheelchairs or anyone with a mobility problem. Id definitely go back because the food was amazing and the menu had many more things that interested me.
Awesome place! On a recent trip to Halifax, we were thrilled to discover Elles Bistro. We had an amazing breakfast (I loved the French toast) and our server was so friendly. We would absolutely come back on our next trip!
Great food
Went for Mothers Day brunch, and it was awesome Dietary restrictions: We had 1 child that had some restrictions on eating some food, and they were very good to accommodate with special options Food : 5/5 |
This place is horrible they held a comedy show that they sold more tickets than tables. Then, to top it off, the servers went in the back and didnt serve you anything. I recommend walking right by this place and digging into a garbage can for food. You have a better chance of getting some food.
33.95 for a few pieces of dried up claw meat, and a server that stared me down while I was paying. Not to mention that they removed my previous review.
Excellent. recently expanded Bistro. Excellent breakfast menu. Choice of coffee offered. Large selection. Pancakes took a little while as a new batch of batter needed to be made. We were kept informed. Inch thick Pancake with Banana and Choc Chips cooked into the mix. Lovely Denver Omelette with Home Fries and choice of breads. Lively Tea Biscuit, (like a scone) to accompany. Friendly and knowledgable staff. One step up from street. June 2023 update: food and service are stoll fantastic.
Fantastic find, great breakfast selection. I had the tomato and avocado eggs Benedict. It was great, I wish I could have tried a couple others. Food
I have visited Elle s Bistro on many occasions. Each time the food has been incredible, however I have frequently had issued with service. It s not that the service is bad, it s just slow. I have found on many occasions I am waiting over 15 minuets for water to dropped off, or for my order to be taken. I typically visit during their Sunday morning-mid day rush; however, this still doesn t excuse the slow service that I have experienced in the past. I recommend trying the food here as it s always amazing, however be prepare for a long stay.
We were in from Vancouver and had a fantastic breakfast. The server was delightful. It was good to hear a table of locals sitting near by talking about how they love the place.
Best brunch in Halifax. The croque madame was unbelievable, and our waitress, Trinity, was delightful. 10/10 would recommend!
The server was only on her second day and she was so sweet and great! The comfort wrap so delicious. It was my first time there and the portion sizes with the prices was a great deal highly recommend.
The girls are super nice The kitchen was great Fast service Mitsubishi boys hahahah
Thanks Trinity! Great job this morning see you tomorrow for breakfast! You are wicked friendly!! Fabulous absolutely fabulous! Food
We booked this location for a private event and it went so smooth, food was loved by all and the staff are phenomenal. 100% would recommend
For a place that had very few customers it sure took a long time to get our food. When we did the fries were barely warm, like they had been sitting on the plate for a bit. Appeared to be only 1 server and he had to answer the phone, eork the cash and serve tables.
Eggs Benny with gravy Nuff said, chefs special hollandaise sauce... maritime style Different strokes for different folks Food : 3/5
Wish we had found this place on the first day of our trip because we definitely would have returned! Great food, great value and fantastic service. It was very busy but the lovely servers worked so hard and were so pleasant. Thank you for an excellent meal!
Great local breakfast place. Large breakfast selection, lunch too, with great food quality. Super nice staff with reasonable prices.
I feel bad after dinner at this place, my friend does too. We ate: cobb salad, turkey with potatoes and carrots, Greek salad and finally mozzarella sticks. Owners of this place, please check the quality of the oil and vinegar and the freshness of the products. Thanks.
A friendly and inviting little restaurant right down town Halifax. A little bit of a hidden gem, even though it s right out in the open. Great food and service at unbeatable prices.
The diner had a line so it took a little longer than anticipated to get in but the service and food made up for it. Lots of options for everyone.
I went to Elles for the first time in years and its just as I remember it Amazing food Food
A simple place with a simple menu and simple execution. Go here if you want breakfast at a fair price. Nothing fancy and I recommend it.
We were lured in by great reviews and a queue waiting outside. During our 7 days in Nova Scotia we had eaten great food all over, but Elles bistro was a great disappointment. Very dark interior, weird bathroom (on a storage-like upper floor with hardly any light). Unfriendly waiter, behaving as if we were the biggest hassle of his life (words of the stranger sitting at table next to us, who called him out on it). Food is sub-par (worst food in NS during our entire trip) and not good value for money. Got two tablespoons of Mac and Cheese as a side for 7 CAD. Egg-Tomato-Feta Sandwich was only just ok. Drip coffee only, tasted like it had been kept warm for hours. Ended up getting good coffee a few meters down at Weird Harbour Espresso Bar(Go there instead).
Really good food with unbeatable prices! Great quality & service.
Great breakfast place, went back multiple times! Definitely recommend the SGROMlette!
Great food, service, and price. One of the rare places where you can get a great breakfast without it costing you an arm and a leg.
Extremely long wait times despite the restaurant not being very busy; we waited almost 10 minutes before even being acknowledged nevermind seated. Our server was friendly once we sat down but we waited almost 40 minutes for our food to arrive. The clubhouse was decent but the side of poutine was underwhelming - it had a total of 3 cheese curds and not much gravy. On the other hand, the brisket brie burger was very good. Personally I will not be returning given this experience.
Great spot for breakfast. French toast is a must try.
Very good food. Had eggs Benny for breakfast and when it came out the hollandaise sauce was brown, looked like gravy. The server mentioned they make it with brown butter. It did taste good and was different, but I wish I would have known that ahead of time as I wasn t in the mood for anything different lol
This was the worst place I had food in Halifax. My friends ordered steak and eggs, the steak was really bad and smells like an old meat thats bad and should not be eaten. They restaurant just offered them to order another food and thats it. -5 stars
The food was delicious, the staff was super friendly and really attentive
Amazing service, fantastic food, and so accommodating! We will come here everytime were back to Halifax now.
As we entered a lady came to the front and said hold the door, the kitchen can t keep up Open tables people with a little kid had to entertain for 10-15 with open tables available. Just finished breakfast. The table beside us were here waiting 1.5 hours for their food. We waited half an hour but only because we were about to leave. We asked to pay for our drinks. The food. Was not very good. The waitress was apologetic. Edit: the response from the owner shows her true colours. And the three people next to us were certainly waited more than an hour. As they didn t even get their foot until we re were done eating and all ready paying. And we re there well before us as we waited 10 min at the front door. No way 41 min wait for breakfast food.
The food was incredible and affordable! We had a large group and the service was amazing.
Slow service. Chaos in restaurant. Table beside us waited over an hour for breakfast. Left out parts of our order. Served didnt bring food to third person at table until after we had already finished. Would not recommend much better places to eat in downtown.
Waited 40mins for food to arrive. Ordered a grilled cheese, the bread was soggy at best, nothing grilled about it. My food arrived a solid 10mins after the other people at my table; more than enough time for everyone to finish their food. Extras ordered and forgotten, doomed never to arrive at the table. Definitely not worth the wait. Several tables are left empty and dirty for half our stay while people outside wait in the rain to be seated. Never experienced slower service in an establishment in my life.
We were 4 at 1100 this past Saturday. Despite the restaurant being 1/3 empty, it took our server 10 minutes to take our drink/coffee order then another 10 minutes for the drinks to arrive. Then another 20 minutes for the food to arrive at the table; 1 or two plates at a time over a 10 minute period. One of us was eating while others waited for their food. The food had mixed reviews at our table. Fish cake was dry and lacked flavour according to one. My wifes sandwich was meh. My eggs Halifax was delicious though. Not a great experience overall. Maybe they were having a bad day? Who knows but recent some reviews here citing service difficulties were spot on. Based on our experience I wouldnt recommend this place.
Absolutely worst restaurant experience I have had. The server Maxie was so rude. She does not belong in service. 3 other tables came up to us and said they wanted to complain for us because she was so rude to us. My son was crying so I gave him a banana chip and she came and said this is a safety hazard and we can t give him outside food. He s 2 and needed to eat. He has been crying for 20min. The food came and it was a small round table. She kept putting the food in front of the little child. I kept saying please put it in front of me so that the food isn t on the floor. It was so stressful. We put some food on the empty table near us just so we could cut the food and give it to the kids. And then get our food in front of us. It wasn t even 2 min. And she said sorry you can t use the other tables. There were 4 empty tables all around us and no one waiting to be seated. They also don t have a coffee machine. Soo if you want to enjoy your breakfast keep that in mind. We didn t even get any water until I asked for it at the very end. Ruined our vacation morning. Don t bother wasting your time. Food is mediocre and service is just awful.
Started out great but unfortunately went downhill from there. Ordered an omelette with a substitutions of bacon instead of ham. Ordered a bagel as my toast. Some how that turned into a sandwich. Waitress asked if that was okay or if I wanted it to be remade. I asked politely if it could be remade. She brings me back the same plate back a few minutes later and all the cook did was remove it from the bagel. I could have done that myself and not what I asked for. Waitress confirmed that as well. Then I noticed they didn t sub the ham for bacon. It included both. Told the waitress and she just apologized. I didn t want to wait for it to be remade again. So I said I ll eat it but reminded her I didn t want the ham to begin with. When the bill came they where still charging me for the bacon as an add on. Pointed it out to the waitress and she said she can t remove the extra charge because I still had both the bacon and ham. Ham I specifically asked to be substituted with bacon and she said it was fine to do it when taking my order. It was the order takers mistake but for some reason I still have to pay for it. Waitress never explained to me I would still have to pay for both, regardless. Which is ridiculous and had I known this was the case. I would have never ordered it with a substitution. I won t even get into my friends order and what happened with it. Wait staff were polite but not experienced. Poor attitude and service overall. Food was fine but not worth it with the service. You can get the same elsewhere with better service.
This place is the best! Had 4 children with us, and they were super accommodating. Food was delicious. Our waitress was amazing, and so friendly. Highly recommend. Kid-friendliness: Served our kids first. Very attentive to their needs. Amazing service!!
Best breakfast during our 4 day stay in Halifax. Loved the home fries.
Had the lobster Benny and it was delicious, reasonably priced. Server was fantastic and had fun with our son.
Great food and service. Was able to accommodate our large group on short notice. Fast and friendly service
Surprised that there are no espresso style coffees available
Very extensive menu. Had breakfast several days in a row and it was excellent each time. 3 different servers who were all excellent. Home Fries cooked crispy which I like. Omelettes are light and not overcooked. Good portion size and value for money. Would love to try the dinner and lunch menu next time I am in Halifax. If you see a line to get seated, don t stress it moves pretty fast.
Wow ! I just discovered that place on my first day in Halifax and everything is just so perfect !! the personnalized and attentive service, really cool music and vibes and the food is just perfect and delicious. Oh and the coffee...just the best coffee to start the day !! Thank you I will come back for sure !
Great brunch, friendly staff, and tasty food!
been here 2 times. food is good , thats the only reason why i havent put 2 stars...... first time service was slow but ok. this time , it took 15 min just to have a coffee and from the order to the time ive got my breakfast 50 minutes. place was 3/4 full so i expect some delay but 50 min , is way too much. ill find another place next time..
Good solid diner-style breakfast. Large portions and fresh ingredients.
The food was good but we had to wait nearly an hour for it to come. Many customers who came and were seated after us received their food within 10-15 minutes. After waiting half an hour, the waitress came and told us that one of the items we ordered couldnt be made; why this took so long for them to realize is a mystery to me. After we received our food, the waitress told us that she forgot about one of the other items we ordered. We waited so long just to not even receive the meal we had originally ordered. Definitely would not recommend this place to anyone I know.
Its too bad I cant give 0 stars. The service here is horrendous. Waited for a table for 15-20 min even though there were empty tables inside. We were told that they do this to not overload servers, which is an awful way to run a restaurant... You can just re apportion tables. Also waited over 30 min for eggs and pancakes... Not acceptable at a brunch spot. This is a very poorly run restaurant.. both front of house and the kitchen. We saw many other parties leave instead of waiting. Dont blame them. I do not recommend.
One of the more popular brunch spots in Halifax. They have your standard brunch fare with some additional options if you re feeling adventurous. They also have several good gluten-free options and their servers are knowledgeable about cross-contamination. The only issue seems to be that if you re going for a weekend brunch you re probably going have to wait 10-20 minutes for a table, as they are usually operating at capacity.
Amazing prices and good portions.
Staff are so slow, food is average, asked for easy eggs and was given hard eggs. Drinks are fine but honestly, would never go back here. Not worth it at all. Extremely disappointed with the service and the food.
Dark and dingy. Left before ordering. Very bad vibe.
Edited. Was looking forward to having breakfast here based on the reviews. It appeared closed with no sign anywhere saying their hours, if theyre reopening, if theyre closed and why, mid week. How do you not put up a notice informing customers when you have something planned or if youre on site and dont plan to open. Very poor customer service.
This is just blah. I m from Halifax and have dined almost every where in NS and around the world. My omelette was watery, potatoes were uncooked in the center and the coffee was gross (I m a coffee drinker). My daughter ordered the half order of banana and strawberry NUTELLA pancake; the pancake was severely undercooked and had the consistency of play-doh not to mention there was no Nutella to be seen on the pancake, just a light drizzle of old chocolate ice cream syrup which had the taste of something close to BBQ sauce. If you re going for the below average dining experience then this is your spot.
Best stuffed French toast ever! Friendly service and good coffee!
The food was amazing, staff are great. I highly recommend coming here for brunch. They are open for lunch and dinner too I believe. The prices are great too.
Service is excellent, food outstanding. Came here 2 days in a row had the omelette and eggs Benny, husband had hungry hippo and breakfast sandwich. The jalapeno potato latkes are so yummy. Coffee is non-stop refills and very good. Also has the cinnamon roll with maple syrup icing......yuuuummmy! Make a reservation, usually lineup out the door.
Girl at the front hostess was extremely rude. Didnt even bother to stay.
I love going to this little Bistro in the Heart of Halifax for brunch AnyDay of the week! Today I stopped in just after lunch time and as usual I got some great coffee and light snack for my in between physiotherapy classes. I seem to always get the same waitress she seems to not only really care about the food Elle s serves but is very professional in making me always have the best dining experience. With a big smile and sweet personality it is a my pleasure to go there regularly for consistency and a home feeling since I moved to NS a while back! As I enjoyed my meal I was humbled as the waitress went from table to table topping up coffee and making the customers laugh and feel welcomed. Whether you want a classic BLT, hamburger,or a wide variety of tasty Eggs Benny you ll guarantee to never be disappointed , I know I haven t. I highly suggest this little piece of Nova Scotia for your dining choice anytime anyday
What a great little breakfast spot. Emma waitress was fantastic . Food was great
Dont order the french toast, it was thick sliced bread that was dipped in egg mixture for perhaps a millisecond basically just eating a piece of bread. After ordering french toast with rhubarb/strawberry topping, it took the waiter 20+ minutes to tell me rhubarb/strawberry was not available only blueberry. My wifes omelette was the size of an acorn she finished that but I only managed a couple bites of pseudo french toast.
The food was ok. Real ingredients just odd flavour profiles. I went with lunch but should have gone breakfast.
Food was average it was the mice running around that ruined it for us.
We had a delicious French toast with caramelized banana and it was incredible. We also asked for a strawberry milkshake with Oreo in it because we couldn t decide which flavour to get and it was really good. Will surely be back to try more shakes.
My partner and I went to Halifax over the weekend for a wedding and decided to last minute brunch before the ceremony. We found the place in google maps and it was 5 minutes from us. We were able to get in without a reservation and no waiting; the food was delicious! The fruit cup I had was especially good. The server we had was very lovely as well.
The worst experience Ive ever had with a restaurant. Do not give this business your hard earned money. We arrived and were greeted by our server, who was pleasant and remained professional throughout the experience. We ordered our breakfast, my wife and I both ordered eggs benedicts. When they arrived they looked unappetizing and sloppy. I took ONE bite (my wife didnt touch hers) and it was clear this was NOT hollandaise sauce. When we spoke to the server she explained that this was some sort of brown butter sauce. I am a chef and will tell you this was not even close to hollandaise, rather more like a brown butter type gravy, and one with an unpleasant taste, and has no place being passed off as hollandaise. After speaking to the server she agreed to return the plates to the kitchen. When she entered the kitchen we could here the staff laughing and mocking us. She then returned and said the manager (who was not present) said they are not going to take anything off the bill or replace the meals. We had to pay for the meals we received, and she could bring them back to the table. Note, that at no time we did we request a refund and would have been happy to select something else from the menu. After going back and forth a few times with the server calling managers/owners she said one of the owners agreed to remove the items from our bill. Imagine misrepresenting your own menu with subpar, inedible items and then trying to hold customers hostage to pay. Shameful behavior! Bring your money to establishments with better food and service.
My daughter and I went there for breakfast three times in April. The service was excellent and the food was delicious, fresh and plentiful. We felt totally comfortable.
Great food...reasonable prices!
Went this morning, and was served expired milk. Nobody acknowledged our presence for 10 minutes. Servers were running around actually jogging. Was not discounted for the milk issue. The person bringing potatoes around was the only positive.
Two waiters to cover the whole restaurant on a Sunday morning- they looked miserable. Our server wouldn t even speak to us - just stared at each of us to get our order. Way understaffed so people were leaving the line.
I am a diehard eggs Benny fan, and have eaten eggs Benny all over the country and at hundreds of different diners. I can tell you with absolutely certainty that this is hands down the absolute BEST hollandaise sauce Ive ever ever tasted, truly World class!!!!! They have a large section of the menu dedicated to all eggs Benny dishes which obviously speaks volumes to its popularity. I am from Ontario, but will definitely go out of my way to enjoy a delicious platter of their specialty eggs Benny again!! Vegetarian options: Many veggie options and substitutions available to accomodate Dietary restrictions: Many keto friendly dishes and GF options!
My husband and I are massive eggs Benny fans, we went out of our way to eat here multiple times while we were in town recently, so we could enjoy their world class hollandaise sauce! Highly highly recommend!!!!
The eggs benny section of the menu is worth a look! We loved our meals.
After reading mixed reviews we thought to give this place a chance. That was a mistake. There are not enough servers for the customers and the food....bland, unremarkable. I saw a review about them not using real hollandaise and I agree, it was not very good at all, brown thin clear sauce.
If you like un friendly staff Long wait times Awkward seating Mediocre food This is the spot
The only thing good about this place was the price
They sat us down and forgot about us, asked for iced tea, brought warm ice tea with no ice, ordered two wraps, Caesar and Spanish wrap, was a warm tortilla folded in half, one had moldy cheese and actually had to spit it into napkin, asked for a side salad with ranch, got some greens with house oil salad that tasted like oil. Then a mouse ran across the floor, got up, paid and left
Went looking for a great local spot for breakfast while in Halifax and found Elles Bistro! I anticipate that we will be going back next time we are in town!!!
A great spot right downtown! Parking is rough but worth it- delicious food with lots of dietary options, friendly staff! Dietary restrictions: So mice to have options!
The best brunch spot in halifax. Great atmosphere, laid back, huge menu, great drinks, feels like HOME. Cant go wrong. Their shakshuka is delicious and spicy. Caesar comes with a mini grilled cheese on top. Wow!
My new favourite place for brunch, the food was fantastic and the service was amazing.
Had the salmon breakfast, food was good & great Halifax service as always.
On our recent trip to Halifax my husband and I went here three of the mornings for breakfast. It was delicious! The food was good, the coffee was great and the service was fantastic. They are busy but its worth the wait!!
Had the cheddar omelette and it was delicious! Perfect serving size for myself and the coffee is strong :)
Good food and service. Big portions
Milkshakes and Brie French toast for life! The lineup outside tells you how good it is. Worth the wait! Love the owners and staff!
The food was really good, the service on the other hand very poor. We felt like we were intruding and to ask for a water from the waitress was a task.
Excellent breakfast sandwich with jalapeño potato pancakes instead of bread. Amazing server asked a neighboring table If her fruit was ok (wasnt all eaten). The way she delivered the question, I would have been comfortable giving any answer. 6 service. Food : 5/5
The food and sevice were both excellent! The menu, truly has something for everybody. We will return next time that we are town.
veggie omelette was delicious and the service was great!
Great atmosphere and great service. You gotta check out their selection.
Good standard-fare breakfast. Cheap, too.